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Yucaipa council approves sheriff contract amendment, adds traffic deputy amid speeding concerns
Summary
After months of resident complaints about speeding and several heated exchanges, the Yucaipa City Council approved an amendment to its contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department that increases the city's Schedule A service level and funds one additional deputy focused on traffic enforcement. Council members split over timing relative to the budget.
The Yucaipa City Council voted June 8 to authorize an amendment to the city's contract for law-enforcement services with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, a move that includes funding for one additional deputy focused on traffic enforcement.
Staff told the council the amended Schedule A establishes a total annual service contract of $16,163,535 and, after personnel credits of $600,450, a net contract amount of $15,563,085 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Staff said the increase stems from negotiated salary and benefits costs, climbing litigation and risk-management expenses, technology investments and the city's request to add a deputy to address a surge in dangerous speeding complaints.
Council members and dozens of residents pressed the council during a lengthy public discussion on whether to approve the added deputy now or wait until the city adopts a final budget. Pat Hall and Gary Eberhart told the council that long downhill corridors such as Carter Street and Colorado Hills have become hazardous and urged immediate enforcement and engineering fixes. "We're going to get somebody hurt," Hall said, asking the council to review speed-hump or three-way stop options.
Council Member Miller urged caution about approving the fully burdened cost for a deputy before the budget is finalized, noting total compensation estimates in the $290,000'$370,000 range depending on equipment and benefits. "I think we're putting the cart before the horse," Miller said, adding that the city can add positions during the year if needed.
Deputy Mayor Baieber and others emphasized the safety imperative, saying recent fatal collisions and traffic complaints justify approving the deputy promptly. "Human life is priority," Baieber said.
The council debated substitute motions: one to approve Schedule A without the added deputy until the budget is approved and another to approve the amendment as written. After extended discussion and a series of votes and clarifying motions, the council approved the contract amendment that includes the added traffic deputy. Councilmembers recorded concerns about budget timing and directed staff to include the full cost breakdown in upcoming budget materials.
The council also asked staff to return with greater detail on the net contract increase (staff estimated the net increase excluding the deputy at roughly $1.4 million year over year) and how the city intends to cover the additional costs in the coming fiscal plan.
The city attorney and staff emphasized there is flexibility to add or remove position authorization during the budget process, but several council members made clear they intend to monitor budget impacts before staffing decisions beyond that single deputy are finalized.
Action: Council authorized the mayor to execute the Schedule A amendment to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department contract for FY 2026'27, including funding for one traffic deputy. The council instructed staff to provide a line-item budget accounting for the new position when the final budget is considered.
